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Monday, 5 June 2017

DRYAD by Papillon Perfumery

Sexy is different to sensual and sultry is not the same as provocative, but what these words all have in common is that they can be applied to every fragrance from one of Britain's finest independent perfumers. If Agatha Christie is the Queen of Crime then Liz Moores is surely the Siren of Scent. She always weaves a sexuality through her fragrances and this continues with her latest addition. An already impressive range of four fragrances is joined this month by a fifth in the form of the eagerly awaited Dryad, and it promises to entice and challenge in exactly the same way that her previous creations have.

When Papillon Perfumery launched in 2011 nobody could have expected that this independent company would create some of the sexiest fragrances of recent years. Liz Moores, the owner and perfumer, said of the original fragrances, "this collection embodies my personal philosophy that honesty and integrity will inevitably create something beautiful." That statement has never changed, and neither has the high quality of her output. With award nominations and a secure fan following, Papillon's first four scents paved the way for a truly remarkable collection, and one that grows with the introduction of Dryad.

Dryad opens with one of the largest doses of galbanum that I've had the pleasure of smelling in a long time. Liz is almost in dangerous territory but it's this exciting first impression that grabs you. Alongside this you immediately start to enjoy the oakmoss in this fragrance, and that ingredient is going nowhere. Remember, Dryad is a chypre scent and if you love Guerlain's Vol de Nuit then this is a must. The next impression that you get is of a dry tobacco, which I think comes from the deer tongue. Don't worry, no animals were harmed. Deer tongue is a plant that is mixed with pipe tobacco because of its sweet quality, but used here gives a dryness that accentuates the oakmoss even further.

The florals in Dryad are muted because they sit firmly behind the galbanum and oakmoss. The jonquil, part of the daffodil family, becomes enveloped in the overall green effect and its piercing quality blends so well with the touches of lavender and herbs. In addition to this you have a wonderfully true to life costus that seems to hold hands with the iris and push it right to the front of the fragrance. In all seriousness, Dryad is a fragrance that you will keep on smelling, and keep on enjoying, as it develops on the skin. If you love your chypre fragrances, or if one of your favourites has been reformulated to within an inch of its life, then I strongly recommend that you look at this remarkable scent.Liz Moores is always saucy, that's why I love her, and Dryad reminds us that chypres really are sexy. Dryad launches at the end of June and will be available from the website, papillonperfumery.co.uk, and all of their regular stockists. [Sample provided by Papillon Perfumery]

MY SCENTED HISTORY

Perfume has always been a great passion of mine and I am lucky enough to work within this fascinating industry. Every day brings new challenges, experiences and delights to a workplace that is crammed full of new releases, evergreens, and fading classics.

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